Meanwhile, The Internet (featuring Odd Future member Syd and Matt Martians) comes to the Triple Rock Social Club, fresh off their SXSW appearances. I couldn't find any information regarding a new album.…

Despite having one of the most common name, Los Angeles’ The Internet (Syd Tha Kyd, Matt Martians, Patrick Paige II, Christopher Smith, and Steve Lacy) is more popular than ever, thanks to their smooth urban sound and very dedicated fanbase.

To give you a little background, The Internet came from another hip hop group called
Odd Future, where band members Syd Tha Kyd and Matt Martians, met Patrick Paige, Christopher Smith, and Tay Walker, while on tour. By 2011, The Internet was formed and they released their debut Purple Naked Ladies. By 2016, Syd officially departed from Odd Future.

We got a chance to catch the band at the sold-out Varsity Theater show on Wednesday, October 17th. The Varsity was packed, selling out even the more expensive balcony and raised seating area. Although the venue did not list an opening band, we found out that DJ Just Nine kept the crowd entertained before The Internet’s set. Local musician Astralblak (formerly ZuluZuluu), who was originally listed, ultimately canceled the show at the eleventh hour.

Midway in The Internet’s set, they had a few technical difficulties that forced the band to make a public apology via Twitter: “Despite the technical difficulties, you we’re great Minneapolis! Thank you 🙏🏽”

There were no encores, but based on hearing the entire audience singing along, I think they ended on a really high, positive note.

Currently, The Internet is enjoying their time hanging out with Gorillaz.... where they are playing in front of thousands of fans every night. After this Gorillaz tour, expect The Internet to sell out even more headlining gigs.

Belle Game to open. Their latest album Fear/Nothing is out now on Arts & Crafts. The band was last seen in town in October 2017.
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Legendary The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr is on his Call The Comet tour, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis last night, September 17th.

Vancouver’s Belle Game (singer Andrea Lo, guitarist Adam Nanji, drummer Alex Andrew, keys Katrina Jones) spent about forty hours driving to Nashville, and then another twelve hours driving to Minneapolis, so they were just so happy and excited to jump around on stage and singing to us.

I think the energy and sometime upbeat songs could’ve benefit from a younger crowd, because Johnny Marr’s fanbase is mostly middle aged (45-65) and some couldn’t be bothered to do audience participation (answering “yes” to “who’s excited to see Johnny F---- Marr?”).

Marr is a fan of the Canadian band and personally asked them to support some of his tour dates. Marr even voiced his opinion and love for the band at the end of his set, urging fans to really check out their dark electro-pop-ish music, describing them as “awesome.”

Belle Game ended their set with a couple of songs from their sophomore album Fear/Nothing (Arts & Crafts), “Oh I” and “I Want Nothing”.

Godlike Genius Award winner Johnny Marr returned to the Varsity Theater on Monday night. He has a full backing band, which included bassist Iwan Gronow, drummer Jack Mitchell, and guitarist James Doviak. This current 2018 Call The Comet tour set is, by far, the best set yet. This is mostly thanks to some classic The Smiths songs, and a pair of Electronic songs!

Just a little background on my love for Marr: The Smiths was a band that was a little before my time. I discovered Morrissey in 1991 (on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) and went through his back catalog with The Smiths. The songwriting team of Morrissey & Marr was unbeatable, combining Marr’s diverse songs with Morrissey’s witty and often depressing lyrics.

After the Smiths broke up in 1987, Marr spent his time collaborating with other artists, including The Pretenders, Bryan Ferry, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, Talking Heads, etc. You got the feeling that Marr was just itching to work with other people that he admired.

It really wasn’t until Marr formed Johnny Marr and the Healers that he started concentrating on writing songs (and lyrics) for himself. Call the Comet is Marr’s third solo album (fourth if you count The Healers’ Boomslang), and it’s probably Marr’s best album yet. He showcased some of those songs on his set, and even a fan requested “Spiral Cities” (Marr: “Yeah well do that!”).

Johnny Marr has been in Minneapolis about three times, in May 2003, in April 2016, and last night. So, as far as Marr-solo appearances goes, it’s a bit of a rarity to see the musician in the city.

As usual, Marr is just amazing playing guitars. The way he’s making those guitar wonky effect sounds, the dexterity, and the timing, it was just perfect. I almost felt bad for the guitar tech backstage, who was constantly coming on stage between songs to hand Marr another (pre-tuned) guitar. As we’ve previously written, Marr collects Fender and various guitars like most people collect CDs or DVDs.

Obviously, fans responded well to any classic Smiths songs, including “Bigmouth Strikes Again” (played early in to get fans excited), “The Headmaster Ritual” (a song about being bullied), “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me” (not really an upbeat song, but very dramatic and full of sadness), and “How Soon Is Now?” (The Smiths’ most famous song - at least in America).

By far, fans of Electronic, would be really pleased to hear that Marr played “Getting Away With It” (introduced as “This is a disco song from Manchester.”) and “Get the Message”.
It’s a rare treat to hear these songs live, because it’s impossible to get the supergroup (New Order singer and guitarist Bernard Sumner, Pet Shop Boys’s Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, and Johnny Marr) together on tour.

For the encore, Call the Comet song “Rise” and debut The Messenger song “New Town Velocity”, were played before the double-Smiths song that ended the show: “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby”. For “There Is A Light...”, Marr really didn’t need to sing towards the end, instead just relying the dedicated fanbase to just sing back the chorus. This is likely the same scenario, night after night at a typical Marr show. It was pretty impressive.

During band introduction, although Marr knows people comes to these shows to hear those “old songs”, he also added that there are some fans that is very supportive of his new work, adding, “I really appreciate that you’re loving the new songs... I saw some of you guys even dancing - in an age appropriate way!”

Johnny Marr’s Call the Comet is out now. If you have ever loved The Smiths, Electronic, or just appreciate great guitar-playing, check out this current tour. Marr will be playing Belle Game’s hometown gig at Vogue Theater in Vancouver this Thursday.

Buffalo Tom named themselves after Buffalo Springfield and their drummer Tom Maginnis. When I saw the Boston-based band in 2000, the band was already 'old'. They had just released Asides that summer
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Boston’s Buffalo Tom (guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis) stopped by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis (Dinkytown) on Friday, September 7th. This was a special double-set show for the alternative rock group, playing a mix of new/old songs and a Let Me Come Over set. The Let Me Come Over show was originally done for their 25th Anniversary tour for the landmark album last year.

As bassist Chris Colbourn mentioned, the last time the trio came to Minneapolis, it was at the same venue (Varsity Theater) on 13 April 2011, seven years ago.... however, the way band kept exaggerating (eight, nine years!) it sounded like they only come here every hundred years.

Starting the first set with “Summer”, a fitting song to play as we transition into Fall, the group seemed very happy to be playing in Minneapolis again. You have to expect that the group did want to bring their Let Me Come Over 25th Anniversary show to Minneapolis, but for logistic reasons, couldn’t fit the city in. They were more than happy to finally extend the tour to us.

Of course the old songs (like “Sodajerk” and “I'm Allowed” - the second was not on the setlist) went over well with the established, dedicated fans. The new songs from 2018’s Quiet And Peace were mixed in between the old songs to help fans accept them. Let’s face it, nobody wants to hear 5 new, unfamiliar songs in a roll... so they’re doing it right.

A short intermission break was taken after “Fortune Teller” ended the first set.

For the Let Me Come Over set, the band played the original record from first to last song with a special “Power Point” video made by Colbourn’s daughter. We’ve seen these sort of anniversary shows before and they can be challenging, especially when several different guitars are used on different songs. Thankfully, it would seem most of the songs were written on two guitars, so they didn’t need to swap out guitars as needed. There was a guitar tech off stage, who was fast on his feet when they did require a change, though.

They ended their set with “Saving Grace”, as that was the final song on the vinyl. When the band came back for the encore, they closed the show with “Crutch” (a bonus song on the CD version of Let Me Come Over), followed by “Freckles” (a new song from Quiet and Peace).
A Paul Simon song, “The Only Living Boy in New York” was also on the setlist, but ultimately was not played.

For what it’s worth, it was good to see Buffalo Tom back in town. Who knows, it may be another three hundred years before the band returns.

Buffalo Tom will be Bi Nuu in Berlin, Germany, on November 29, 2018. Quiet and Peace is out now.

London-born singer/songwriter Jessie Ware will be at the Varsity Theater on Sunday, April 29th, in support of her latest album Glasshouse (PMR Records / Friends Keep Secrets
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“Dave Chappelle licked my face!”

Soulful UK pop singer Jessie Ware confessed a tale of her wildest moments from her last time in Minneapolis, as the entranced crowd at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis laughed along with her story, also enraptured by the singer’s musical return to this stage for the first time in five years.

Before that, Swedish opener Albin Lee Meldau charmed in an unassuming, downbeat way with a short set of indie, neo-soul songs, culled from his two EPs and upcoming full-length, About You (due June 1 on Astralwerks). Things got serious with ‘Lou Lou’ (a song that’s actually ten years old) and its story set against his country’s opioid epidemic, “a Swedish Trainspotting” he called it. But, things soon lightened up with the new ‘6th Street’, set in Austin, TX during SXSW (described as “Ikea on crack” by Meldau) and navigating through their downtown inebriated.

“Let’s leave it on a positive side” Meldau said, finishing with the new album’s title track, “let’s be a little bit happy together” launching into the retro crooner, and finishing to earned applause.

After a break and pre-show music by Kate Bush and Prince, lights dimmed for the intro of Jessie Ware’s eighty-two minute headlining set- she, in a bright red dress and joined by a five piece band, each in a white mechanic’s jumpsuit (looking like her musical pit crew) with the new album’s title down each sleeve.

The set started gently and dimly lit with the new ‘Sam’, a song co-written with Ed Sheeran about her husband and impending motherhood, from Ware’s third studio full-length, Glasshouse (Island Records), released last October, but things quickly gained tempo with the clap-a-long of ‘Your Domino’ and 2012’s ‘Running’.

“Minneapolis, it’s been a while” Ware confessed, “…it’s been too long”. Between songs, she took time out to catch the audience up on her last five years, including having her daughter. She also cheekily related the story of what had happened after her previous Minneapolis concert, at this same venue in November 2013. Ware and band had ventured over to First Avenue, to catch the end of Skrillex’s set and found herself at the after party, meeting comedian Dave Chappelle, who presumably went in for a kiss, but ended up licking her cheek and ear.

Composing herself, the set continued with ‘Thinking About You’, dedicated to her new daughter, showing off her formidable vocal range on it as well on the song as well as on her latest single, ‘Alone’. Mid-set, she admitted, “this is the part where I pretend I’m in a boy band, sit on a stool… but maybe the stool’s broken from soundcheck” so Ware instead stood, though the audience would benefit as she said, ”I’m going to add a song, because we haven’t been here for a while” before going into a vibrant acoustic Bobby Caldwell cover.

The new album’s soaring first single ‘Midnight’ (with its ‘Bennie and the Jets’-esque piano chorus) was helped on especially from Ware’s crack five-piece backing band, and the fact that her keyboardist and percussionist were both female, and more than able to harmonize with her as backing vocalists.

After a spiritual ‘Say You Love Me’, the encore commenced straight away, with Ware and band not leaving the stage and returning, but instead going right into the electro-soul of ‘Tough Love’, the burning titletrack of her previous album, co-penned by Benny Bianco.

The evening ended with Ware’s breakthrough hit, ‘Wildest Moments’ and the crowd singing the chorus into Ware’s outstretched mic as she smiled in gratitude. Whatever wildest moments may have transpired after this show, we’ll likely have to wait to hear until the next time Jessie Ware plays Minneapolis, which hopefully, won’t be long.

Charlottesville’s Lowland Hum (duo Daniel and Lauren Goans) will be playing the Aster Café in support of their new album Thin. NPR’s Bob Boilen said, “Sincerity, community and beauty is how I think of
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Brother/sister duo The Oh Hellos headlined the newly re-opened Varsity Theater in “Dinkytown” on Thursday night, March 8th. The nearly 1,000 capacity theater was filled up nicely, with a lot of (young) fans who had never been there before... or if they had, it’s been over a year since they were last there.

The reason why the Varsity closed for business in 2017, was the owner, Jason McLean, was in legal trouble for sexually abusing a student at the Children’s Theatre Company in 1983. It was rumored that McLean wanted to sell both the Varsity Theater and Loring Pasta Bar, but only if they were purchased together. We don’t know all the details, but since 2018, the historic theater came under new ownership... the first being a local show in early February 2018.

The Varsity is still as beautiful as ever, with its award-winning bathrooms and lounge sofas, but with a whole staff. The only difference, I could tell, is that there is now a ticket booth (boxed with a window), instead of a counter.
The other thing is that there are extra securities now. There was a long line for the guard to slowly wand everyone before entering the dance floor. Naturally, I understand the reason for this, but it just took too long to get in. If you wanted to catch the opening band, you have to get to the venue when doors open.

Opening up the show was husband/wife duo Lowland Hum (Daniel and Lauren Goans), who was last in town opening for Penny and Sparrow in September 2017, when they had just released their new record Thin.

After someone asked the duo about the “tambo box”, Lauren explained that Daniel made it... then quickly corrected it to, “he thought of it, he didn’t build it.” This caused Daniel to singing an impromptu song called “I Don’t Know How to Build Anything (Except for Songs)”. Since it was made up on the spot, Daniel admitted later that he was just singing things he was thinking (which included recently appearing in Milwaukee and two cats).

The true highlight of their set has to be the beautiful duet for Weezer’s “In the Garage”. It’s Weezer’s nerdiest song (“I've got a Dungeon Master's Guide/I've got a 12-sided die/I've got Kitty Pryde and Nightcrawler too/Waiting there for me, yes I do...”), and under Lowland Hum’s version, it’s back to basic, with just a great melody and a song about being an outcast.

Unfortunately, near the end of their self-described “delicious salad” set, the audience were obviously too loud. The “quiet music” band had to say eventually explain, “We can’t play any louder. If you talk, you can’t hear us. So, choose not to talk, it would help.”

Still, we’re sure Lowland Hum won over some newfound fans, so all was good... but you can’t help but think they’re the wrong opening band for this loud “main course”.

Although we say The Oh Hellos is a folk rock duo (Tyler and Maggie Heath), when they perform live, it’s an eight-piece band. Tyler and Maggie Heath started in 2011, releasing music on Bandcamp, got featured on NBC’s Parenthood, and literally build up their fanbase by word of mouth.

If you attend any Oh Hellos shows, their fans are passionate about their upbeat/feel-good anthemic folk/rock sound.
Looking on stage, there are only laughter and smiles, it’s really infectious.

The band is really fun, early in their set, one of their band member, Joshua Heinlein, asked for a “Mandatory Dance Party”, which includes a goofy “waiting for the waiter” dance.

The Oh Hellos’ latest release, Eurus (the second EP in a series of four), is out now, and it’s their Earthiest EP. Even Tyler admitted that, “We wanted the music to capture the feeling of dark woods, dry branches, dead leaves...”

The Frights to open. Their debut album You Are Going To Hate This was also produced by Zac Carper (that dude gets around).
Amoeba Music says The Frights “make music that's a lot
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FIDLAR sold out the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on November 19th. The band is touring in support of their new album Too (Mom+Pop Records).

The Frights

I had never heard of The Frights before but, after last night, they’re all I can think about. Their set felt genuine and it was nothing short of fun. Their music was a little like if Weezer and Modern Baseball had a kid that was raised by the angsty side of Brian Sella, the singer of The Front Bottoms. Their short set had more energy than most headlining acts that I see. I just couldn’t tear my eyes off the stage and just couldn’t stop myself from bouncing up and down to the beat.

SWMRS

SWMRS was the next to band to hit the stage. I saw these guys a while back and loved them but was disappointed by the way the crowd just stood there and didn’t really seem to care who SWMRS was or that there was even a band on the stage. Oh my how things have changed.

SWMRS’ music is a very upbeat, in-your-face, style of rock n roll. It’s got a classic sound but a unique feeling to it which makes it something memorable. Singer Cole Becker has this truly down to earth feel to him as he addresses the crowd. He felt more like a friend than the frontman of a popular band. When he spoke about his hate for Trump and his love for concerts being a safe place it felt real and genuine, like he truly cares. It’s that kind of personality and energy that turns a good set into a truly amazing set.

Capping off the already amazing night of music was Fidlar (stylized as FIDLAR). I had stumbled into their show about a year ago and instantly fell in love with their quirky look, upbeat music, and high energy show.

This four-piece has a way of commanding a crowd without saying a word. They didn’t have to tell the sold out crowd to jump or even bob their heads. Within the first note, the crowd was going wild. The energy in the venue was electric but it was a laid back kind of electric. Fidlar’s music leans towards the surf punk genre and the crowd definitely helps with that feeling. I couldn’t help but get lost in their sounds and the crowd.

Fidlar is one of those bands that I could never get sick of watching live. They are high-energy and just have a very positive vibe to them. It doesn’t matter what you were worrying about when you walked into their show, the second they start playing you forget about everything except where you are and who you’re surrounded by. Nobody cares if you look like an idiot, nobody cares if you accidentally bump their drink, it’s smiles all around at a Fidlar show and I love that.

Acclaimed husband-and-wife team Johnnyswim will be heading out on their second annual "A Johnnyswim Christmas Tour" this December, stopping by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday
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With a new record out, a string of sold out shows, and an ever-expanding fan base, you could say that things are going…err, swimmingly, for Nashville’s Johnnyswim.

The band, led by husband/wife duo Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez played a sold-out show to a mesmerized crowd at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, just after selling out the fabled RymanAuditorium in their home base of Nashville, and also have an upcoming appearance atop a float in New York City, for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Fellow Nashville artist Jonny P warmed up the crowd, dressed dapper (influenced by his own fashion design career) and crooning his take on retro-modern soul, with several cuts from his ‘Right To You’ EP, including ‘Drive’ and ‘Good to You’.

What a difference a couple years of hard work makes for Johnnyswim – when we saw the duo for the first time locally, the band played in the middle of a bill to a sparse but interested crowd, and Sudano was not pregnant, then was on the next time in town, then had their son Joaquin, then brought him onstage again, to show everyone how much he’s grown. When the band calls their fans family, it rings true as you see how their own family has developed.

Their Let It Matter Tour finds the duo and their regular backing band on a stage with four spot stage lights behind them, with Abner sporting a new dark crushed velvet jacket on this night. The duo is still clearly in love, obvious not only by the longing each has for the other in their eyes, but in the verses they sing both separately and together. The band is in support of their recently released Georgica Pond (on Big Picnic Records), inspired by a regular vacation spot in New York near Shelter Island.

“It may be cold outside… but it’s hot in here!” Abner said before ‘Don’t Let It Get You Down’, a song dating back to 2013’s Heart Beats EP, “this is what it looks like when your dreams come true”, he said scanning the sold-out room.

After ‘Let It Matter’, the duo dedicated the few songs in the set, a series of love songs, to a couple they met pre-show, spending their 16th wedding anniversary at the concert, including ‘First Try’, one that showcases their gospel-esque folk soul, and is the song they plan to sing at the holiday parade.

Hushed silence let Amanda’s vocals echo crisply for the new album’s title track and ‘Diamonds’, no longer quite as confrontational sounding as when it was originally written, but still delivers a powerful punch in concert and had the crowd singing along. Main set closer ‘Home’ found the band leaving the stage and going into the middle of the crowd to finish the song surrounded by fans and off-mic.

The most intimate moments were when the duo played huddled around a single mic, with Abner’s acoustic guitar and the crowd’s vocals on the choruses, the only accompaniment. The three-song quiet encore was built around that, with the crowd’s rapt attention keeping the sound clear and the duo focused.

As ‘Annie’ morphed into the last part of a Willie Nelson cover, the crowd was patient then roared in applause as Johnnyswim thanked the audience and said goodnight, bringing back out the band and the opener, with everyone smiling and bowing. You could say things went swimmingly.

Touring on their way to Coachella 2015 (and I'm assuming they'll likely play SXSW 2015 as well), Saint Motel will be stopping by Minneapolis' 7th Street Entry on Saturday, January 31st.
You may recall that we caught them
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The special Ones To Watch 2016 tour, featuring Saint Motel, Jr Jr, and Weathers, stopped by the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis last Thursday, October 13th.

Weathers

Opening the show was Los Angeles’ Weathers with a brief 30-minute set. The indie-pop band currently only has two songs available for purchase (‘Happy Pills’ and ‘I Don't Wanna Know’), which, of course, they played to the crowd.

The rest of the titles on their setlist, which I’ve compiled, may or may not be the actual title once they release them. The four-piece (singer/rhythm guitar Cameron Boyer, guitarist Cameron Olsen, drummer Cole Carson, and bassist Brennen Bates) generally seemed pleased to be on this “Ones To Watch” tour. Based on how the young band handled the crowd and especially if they land another hit (‘Happy Pills’ was the number one added song on Alternative Radio), expect the band to be on everyone’s hit list next year. Very glad to have caught the band when they are just developing.

Jr Jr

Jr Jr was up next. The band was previously known as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and the duo (Joshua Epstein & Daniel Zott) wasted no time storming the stage at exactly 8:30pm.

The band was dressed in all gold glittery outfits, and they explained that, like the Golden Girls, they were less intimated and trying to promote fun. With that said, they medley in a cover of The Temptations’ ‘My Girl’... a fitting song, as the band is actually from old school “Motor Town” Detroit (Motown).

The band was actually between albums, so they tested some new material for us for the rest of the set. One of the songs actually existed as a demo, but when someone broke into their tour van and stole their computer with the demos, they had to re-write and re-work those songs.

Near the end of their set, they realized they had enough time to play two more songs... so they asked the audience to help them pick the next songs. Someone shouted ‘Gone’, which they immediately replied, “Of course we’re going to play ‘Gone’!”

They eventually heard ‘Simple Girl’, which is an older song. After ‘Simple Girl’, of course, of course, of course, ‘Gone’ closed out their set.

When we first saw Saint Motel ( A/J Jackson, Aaron Sharp, Greg Erwin, and Dak Lerdamornpong) opened up for Arctic Monkeys in 2014, they blew us away: “Like I said, Saint Motel has a lot of potential, and the band is taking advantage of all the sold out Arctic Monkeys shows to play their very best on stage.”

The L.A.-based band seemed thrilled to be back in town, especially for singer A/J, as we have previously mentioned, was his hometown. A lot has changed since A/J was last in town, but the city was still as friendly and welcomingly as ever... as fans welcome the band with open hearts.

The band mostly stuck to their new, forthcoming album saintmotelevision (set for release October 21st via Elektra Records), but did play some old favorites from their 2012 debut Voyeur, including ‘Feed Me Now’ and ‘Benny Goodman’.

Rich Robinson's brother Chris Robinson is the lead singer of The Black Crowes. When the band went "on indefinite hiatus", Robinson formed The Chris Robinson Brotherhood.
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The Chris Robinson Brotherhood headlined the Varsity Theater Tuesday night and were greeted by a packed house full of people ready to experience a night of great tunes from this legendary act.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood Setlist

There were no openers, just two sets played by The CRB and you really didn't need much more. Chris Robinson, the frontman, is the one and only singer of The Black Crowes. The CRB was created while The Black Crowes were on hiatus. Even though there are other members of TBC in CRB, the music is completely different with only small hints of the previous band.

The CRB hit the scene in 2011 and played nearly 50 shows in the state of California before officially releasing any music. The hype was real and there was a demand for what the band was putting out there so they gave into the fans and released two full length albums just months apart from each other (Big Moon Ritual, and The Magic Door). After releasing those two albums, receiving praise from critics, and love from the fans, The CRB hit the road and finally brought their signature acid- Americana sound to the rest of the world.

Tuesday night's show was part of a nearly four-month long tour in support of their newest album Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel (Silver Arrow Records) but they seemed to play a bit of everything at the show.

The older crowd was quiet and patient as the show started a half hour late but as soon as the band took the stage, the respectful hooting and hollering started. There wasn't a still head in the room as the audience bobbed their heads to the beat of the bluesy-Americana music.

Although the music wasn't super-fast paced, it was energetic and it was hard to get bored while watching the members play through constructed songs and, what seemed to be, impromptu jam sessions throughout the set. The lengthy songs seemed to blend together as the musicians trucked through the two sets with minimal breaks. Although it was hard to tell when one song ended and one began, the crowd clapped every time there was a break and seemed to be super appreciate of this band making a stop at The Varsity Theater.

Not only did The Chris Robinson Brotherhood offer up their music Tuesday night, "The Brotherhood Steam Beer" which was created in conjunction with Anchor Brewing, was being sold at the bar. This tasty beer seemed to be a favorite in the crowd and people were buying it by the case in order to take the taste of the night home with them.

Cult-like gothy electro duo Crystal Castles is back in Minneapolis, this time touring in support of their new 2016 album Amnesty (I) (Casablanca Records). The last time they were in town
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Toronto’s Crystal Castles recently sold out the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis on Friday night, September 30th. The duo (songwriter/producer Ethan Kath and Edith Frances) is on tour in support of Amnesty (I) (Casablanca Records).

Aaron Rice

Starting the show was local DJ Aaron Rice (not to be confused with Grammy Nominated Songwriter and Producer Aaron Rice). His present was a surprise, because he wasn’t actually listed on the venue’s website.

If you’re not familiar with Aaron Rice, he’s the frontman for Aaron and the Sea, but at this show he is basically solo as a DJ and his light-up/colorful booth.

I was told that he actually started playing a little after doors at the Varsity Theater opened, clocking over 45 minutes of his music. This is much longer than the other opening band The Guidance.

The Guidance

In stark contrast, while Rice’s set was chilled, downbeat and extended, Los Angeles’ The Guidance (not to be confused with London’s Guidance or the Guidance Band) featured a high-energy tour de force performance in a very brief span of time.

Singer Stefan Pruett, wearing a “Reckless” beanie, never stopped jumping, dancing, and singing. Pruett was also rarely on stage, preferring to sing in the audience or body surf, etc. He also knew how to command and work the crowd, and, with that interaction, they were really into whatever the Guidance was doing.

Pruett was joined on stage with a live drummer and a producer/audio in the background. Their 20-min set included so-called “Future Grunge” music like ‘I Am Perfect’ and their set closer ‘Carefree’ (a “slow song” according to Pruett).

We caught Crystal Castles a few years ago and can only describe their shows as a bit chaotic and unconventional. If you’ve never seen Crystal Castles, you should expect 99% strobe lights! The other thing to note is half the fun is actually watching the audience! Some are raver kids (complete with neon lights), some are dressed up in costumes (yes, a typical Crystal Castles’ night), but everyone is there to dance and have a good time.

As you can see from their setlist, about half was taken from their latest Amnesty (I), including ‘Concrete’, ‘Char’, ‘Enth’, ‘Fleece’, and ‘Femen’. They ended their set with the Platinum Blonde’s ‘Not In Love’, which may have been made famous in 2010 as it featured The Cure’s Robert Smith on vocals.